Depositing and collection receptacles.



G. SCOTT,

DEPOSITING AND GOLLEGTION REGEPTACLES,

APPLICATION FILED MAB.;18,1914.

Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

GScoTT THE NORRIS PETERS CCL. PHOTC-LITHQ, WAHINOTUN. D C.

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DEPOSITING AND COLLECTION RECEPTACLES;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

Application filed March 18, 1914. Serial No. 825,606.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CI-rARLns Soon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Williamsburg, in the county of James City and State of Virginia, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Depositing and Collection Receptacles, of which the follow ing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention comprehends certain new and useful improvements in depositing and collection receptacles and relates particularly to mail boxes for parcel post and gen eral mail.

The invention has for its primary object a simple, durable, and efficient construction of device of this character which will be found ofconsiderable convenience in handling packages, letters, and other mail and which will embody an improved arrangement of parts whereby the two compartments that are designed primarily for general mail and parcel post packages respectively may be thrown into one, whenever desired.

A further object of the invention is a box of this character embodying an improved construction and arrangement of partition plate designed to divide the upper compartment of the box from the lower compart ment thereof, the parts being so constructed and arranged that said partition may be easily secured in its operative position and very readily turned down into an inoperative position when it is desired to use the box for parcels alone.

A still further object of the invention is an improved mail box embodying a novel and useful construction of door and locking mechanism therefor, whereby access may be conveniently had to either the upper compartment of the box or both upper and lower compartments simultaneously, such access being only obtainable by someone with the proper key. And the invention also aims to generally improve devices of this character so as to render them more useful and com mercially desirable.

With these and other objects in view as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions, arrangements, and combinations of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mail box embodying the improvements of my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectlon thereof looking toward the door or front; F ig, 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 4.4c of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a detail section showing the hinge of the lower door section; Fig. 6 is a detail view of a pivoted bar hereinafter specifically referred to; and Fig. 7 is a detail section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 2.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in all ofthe views of the accompany ing drawing by like reference characters.

v Referring to the drawing, theletter A designates the body portion of my improved mail box as a whole. This may be-of any desired construction, size, shape, and proportions of the parts, and may be made out of any desired substance or material; but I prefer to make it out of galvanized sheet steel with lower side walls 1 which curve inwardly as at 2, and upper side walls 3 which are of substantially inverted U-shape in cross-section, although it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited in this regard. The bottom 4 is preferably provided along its sides with flanges which are riveted or otherwise secured tothe side walls 1 near the lower edges of the latter, two openings being preferably formed in each side for nailing through, whereby the box may be easily secured to any suitable support. Preferably. the rear wall 5 is formed with an inturned flange 6 crimped or beaded upon an outturned flangeformed onthe rear of the sideportions 1, 2, and 3, in an evident manner, and to reinforce the body portion of the box, I preferably rivet or otherwise secure to the interior thereof close to but spaced from the front edge, a metallic strap or bar 7 which forms a doorway or jamb into which the door B is adapted to fit.

The door B includes a lower section 8 which is preferably provided at its lower edge with a curled portion 9' pivotally mounted on a rod 10 which extends transversely of the box through the side walls 1 near the lower front corners thereof. The upper section 11 of the door B at the front of the box is nivotally connected to the lower section as at 12,'whereby the upper section may be moved independently of the lower section, or both sections moved together to closed or open position. a I

In order to divide the interior of the box into upper and lower compartments, the former for general mail and the latter or both of them for parcelpost packages or the like, I provide a partition plate 13. This is hingedly connected in any desired way to one side of the body structure, preferably at the juncture between the walls 2 and 3 and is adapted to swing laterally about a horizontal axis, whereby it may be dropped down to a substantially vertical position when it is desired to throw both compartments into one or may be moved to an upper and substantially horizontal position when it is desired to divide the box into the two compartments. This partition 13, which constitutes a bottom for the upper compartment of the box is provided in its relatively free edge with any desired number of notches 14 producing. tongues which are designed to register with notches 15 formed in a preferably. angular strip of metal 16 which is riveted or otherwise secured to the interior of the box, asbest illustrated in Fig. 3. The partition 18 is movable to a certain extent in a longitudinal direction on a pintle rod or hinge connection, whereby when it is swung up toa horizontal position and the tongues passed through the notches 15 of the strip 16, the partition may be pulled forwardly until an edge strip 17 abuts against the reinforcing strap 7 hereinbefore referred to, whereupon, as. will be clearly understood, the relatively free edge. of the partition will rest upon theinwardlv projecting intersected flange of the strip 16 and the partition will be "securely heldinits elevated position to form a bottom for the upper compartment of the box.

The door B is provided with any desired form of opening '18 through which mail matter may be inserted into the upper compartment of the box and the upper section of the door is preferably provided with a spring latch 19 designed to frictionally engage with the door jamb, thereby serving to hold the door 'in its upper closed position without its being locked. The: upper section 11 is also provided witha lockfZO which is not like a spring catch but operated by a key to both shoot the bolt and retract it, it

being proposed to supply two individual keys for each box and to providethe postal clerk with a master key. The door may be easily manipulatedv by means of a handle or knob 21 secured in any desiredway to the upper section 11 of the door. Riveted or otherwise secured to the inner faceof the lower section 8 of the door B, preferably near the topwthere'o'f is a bearing bracket 22.. This is formed with laterally spaced ears between which an elbow latch 23 is pivotally mounted, said latch being engageable with the reinforcing strap 7, to detachably fasten the lower section 8 thereto in the closed position of the door and being moved to its operative position by means of 'a spring 2 1 engaging the handle end 25, as clearly illustrated in the drawing. In order to release the latch 23, I have formed an opening 26 in the partition 13 whereby, when the upper section 11 of the door is swung back, the operators finger may be inserted through this opening which is in convenient proximity to the handle end 25.

In order to prevent the latch 23 from operating, except in a frictional way, I provide a bar 27 which is preferably of the same thickness as the reinforcing strap 7, said bar being pivotally connected to the inner wall of the boX and adapted to be turned down to a position where it will obstruct the hook end of the latch '23 and prevent its engagement with the reinforcing strap. Whenever the bar 27 is not desired for use, it can be easily swung upwardly out of the way. I p i It will be understood that any desired form of coin holder and parcel post and general mail. signals may be provided but as these do not form anv parts of the pres ent invention and cannot be claimed herein, they are not disclosed.

From the foregoing description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, the operation of my improved mail box will be apparent. In practice, when it is desired to use the box for general mail and parcel post packages, the partition 13 is swung upwardly to a horizontal position and fastened in place as hereinbefore described. The door B is, held closed by means of the lock 20 and latch 23. Whenever it is desired to deposit letters or the like in the box, they may be very easily inserted through the opening 18 and whenever it is desired to remove letters and the like from the. upper compartment, it is only necessary to unlock the upper section 11 of the door and. to swing thesame forwardly and downwardly in an evident manner. Whenever it is desired to insert parcels into the lower compartment of the box, it is only necessary to unlock the upper section and to subsequently unfasten the lower section by. disengaging the latch 23 from the reinforcing strap 7 which forms a keeper there for and the same operation is carried out when parcels are removed. In order to throw both of the compartments into one whenever it is desired to use the entire interior of the box for parcel post purposes it is only necessary to disengage the partition 13 from its supporting strip or ledge 16 and to swing it down to a substantially vertical position.

while the accom anying drawing illustrates what I believe to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but that various minor changes may be made in the construction, arrangement, and proportions of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

hat is claimed is 1. A box of the character described, comprising a body portion provided with a partition dividing it into lower and upper compartments, a door for the box constructed in sections hingedly connected together and forming closures for the respective compartments, hingedly connected to the body of the box whereby both sections may be moved to gether to open position so as to expose both compartments simultaneously and whereby one section may be moved independently of the other so as to open one compartment without the other, and means whereby the partition may be moved into a position to establish free communication between the compartments, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A box of the character described, a partition therefor, the partition being hingedly connected within the box to one side thereof and adapted to swing laterally to a horizontal position so as to extend across the box and divide it into upper and lower compartments, the partition being formed in its relatively free edge with notches, and a ledge within the box also formed with notches adapted to register with the unnotched edge of the partition, the partition being movable longitudinally, whereby the free edge may rest upon the ledge and hold the partition in its operative position.

3. A box of the character described including a body portion, a hinged partition mounted therein and movable to a position where it will divide the box into two compartments, said partition being arranged to be moved to an inoperative position whereby to throw both compartments into one,- and a door consisting of hingedly connected sections, one for each compartment, one of the sections being hingedly connected to the body portion whereby the entire door may be moved to an open position to expose both compartments simultaneously and whereby one section may be moved to expose one compartment without exposing the other.

4. In a box of the character described, a door constructed in upper and lower secone of. said sections being tions hingedly connected together, the lower section being hingedly connected to the body portion of the box, a partition adapted to divide the body of the box into upper and lower compartments, means carried by the upper section of the door to hold it locked in closed position, a latch carried by the lower section of the door, and a keeper engageable by said latch to hold the lower section of the door in closed position, the partition being provided with an opening whereby said latch may be reached to release the same.

5. box of the character described comprising a body portion and door therefor, the door being constructed in upper and lower sections hingedly connected together and the lower section being hingedly connected to the body portion, means carried by the upper section of the door for looking the same in closed position, a spring latch carried by the lower section of the door, a keeper engageable by said latch, and a bar pivotally connected 'to the interior of the box contiguous to said keeper and adapted to be moved into the path of movement of the latch whereby to prevent its engaging the keeper, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a box of the character described, a door constructed in upper and lower sections hingedly connected together, the lower section being hingedly connected to the body portion of the box, means carried by the upper section of the door for looking it in a closed position, and independent means carried by the other section of the door for holding it in closed position whereby the first named section may be opened and the second named section still maintained closed.

7. In a box of the character described, a door constructed in upper and lower sections hingedly connected together, the lower section being hingedly connected to the body portion of the box, a partition adapted to divide the body of the box into upper and lower compartments, means carried by the upper section of the door to hold it in closed position, and independent means carried by the lower section of the door for holding the latter in closed position, the partition being provided with an opening whereby the last named means may be reached for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. CHARLES SCOTT. Witnesses:

GARY G. ARMIST'EAD, FRANK ARMISTEAD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

